ST,  CHARLES 

ILLINOIS 

The  'Beauty  Spot  of  the 

FOX  RIVER  \ALLEY 


LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

Gift  of  Ronald 
Rayman 


/£  N  allegorical  sketch  on  the  cover  by 
Q^/jL  Les  Norris,  envisages  Pottawatomie, 
chief  of  the  primeval  inhabitants  of 
this  vale  of  beauty.  Where  stood  his  wigwam, 
now  stands  in  its  finished  elegance  the  Saint 
Charles  Country  Club;  where  the  trail  of  the 
mighty  hunter  and  the  swift-footed  warrior  beat 
its  pathway  deep,  now  stands  the  Arcada  Theatre; 
the  towering  Hotel  St.  Charles,  and  the  St. 
Charles  National  Bank. 


1 


9 


ST.  CHARLES 


Ttie  Beauty  "S^^pj:  the 
FOX* 


Watch  for  <— > 

1.  The  Beautiful  Environment. 

2.  The  Community  Center. 

3.  The  Churches. 

4.  The  Banks  and  Industries. 

5.  The  Newest  High  School. 

6.  The  Arcada  Theatre, 

Country  Club,  Hotel. 


'?  7  £3  23 

5t  I 


he 


HE  thrill  which  came  to  me  with  my  first  view  of  the  Fox  River  Valley  made 
an  imperishable  impression  upon  me.  It  seemed  almost  unbelievably  varied 
and  verdant  for  a  landscape  in  the  rich  prairie  country  of  the  Middle  West — 
as  if,  when  God  made  New  England,  a  generous  portion  of  that  material  had 
been  left  over  and  placed  in  Northern  Illinois. 

That  initial  impression  has  been  fortified  and  reinforced  through  more  than  thirty 
years  of  residence  in  this  kindly  valley.  Its  charms  bear  the  acid  test  of  long  intimacy. 
When,  today,  I  drive  to  the  ridge  of  hills  overlooking  the  winding  course  of  Fox  River 
and  its  valley,  I  find  myself  moved  by  its  pastoral  loveliness  as  I  was  moved  when  first  my 
eyes  rested  upon  it  as  a  boy  eagerly  making  towards  the  threshold  of  manhood. 

The  enduring  quality  of  enchantment  which  this  valley  casts  upon  those  who  have 
eyes  to  see  its  beauties  is  the  supreme  test  which  can  be  imposed  upon  any  place,  any 
landscape,  any  person.  Only  the  rarest  of  friends  can  stand  this  ordeal  of  long  intimacy. 
For  myself,  I  wish  that  only  those  who  are  capable  of  appreciating  this  strip  of  transplanted 
New  England  might  be  admitted  to  it. 

That  the  lure  of  this  valley  to  me  is  not  a  matter  of  my  own  eyes,  not  my  own  prej' 
udicedj  and  impressionable  perceptions,  I  have  put  to  proof  a  thousand  times  by  taking 
strangers  to  survey  its  charms.  These  pilgrimages  of  experimentation  in  the  effect  of  the 
valley  upon  others  began  in  the  old  buggy  days  when  a  drive  from  Geneva  to  Elgin  and 
return  was  a  day's  trip. 

The  coming  of  the  automobile  has  meant  to  me  seeing  more  of  the  Fox  River  Valley 
and  being  able  to  display  more  of  it  to  my  friends  and  acquaintances.  That  is  my  measure 
of  what  the  automobile  has  accomplished ! 

I  recall  a  long  Sunday  trip  with  Emerson  Hough,  shortly  after  he  took  up  a  temporary 
residence  in  Elgin.  We  had  both  done  our  bit  in  "seeing  America  first"  and  were  regarded 
as  thoroughly  seasoned  "scenery  hounds."  But,  as  a  turn  of  the  road  brought  some  new 
vista  of  the  valley  into  view,  he  would  signal  me  to  stop  the  car  so  that  he  could  drink  in 
the  fresh  loveliness  of  the  landscape.    I  can  hear  him  exclaim: 

"Look  at  that!  Crissey,  every  time  I  come  back  to  this  Valley  it  gets  a  stronger  hold 
on  me.  It  is  friendly,  intimate,  alluring.  It  doesn't  yell  at  you  or  strut  or  try  to  awe  you — 
but  just  smiles  and  invites.   That's  the  kind  of  scenery  to  live  with  year  after  year!" 

Hundreds  of  others  to  whom  I  have  shown  the  Valley  have  confessed  the  same  en' 
chantment.  Its  spell  falls  upon  them  all — and  holds  them  more  closely  the  longer  they 
live  with  it.  Often  have  I  tried  to  analyse  the  peculiar  quality  of  the  Fox  River  Valley's 
appeal.    There  has  been  a  hint  of  this  in  what  I  have  already  said. 

One  strong  note  in  its  appeal  is  that  it  blends  agricultural  richness  with  scenic 
beauty.  This  combination  is  not  altogether  common.  Quite  generally  the  landscape  that 
flaunts  its  picturesqueness  betrays  by  the  same  token,  its  lack  of  productivity.  Follow  any 
country  road,  or  any  cement  highway  in  the  Valley  of  the  Fox  in  the  harvest  season  and 
the  eye  is  confronted  at  every  angle  with  tawny  fields  of  grain  or  rich  green  stretches  of 
alfalfa  framed  with  dark  woods. 


they  are 


The  hills  that  embosom  the  Fox  and  their  intervales  are  not  barren  breast s 
fountains  of  rich  and  generous  nourishment  for  the  human  beings  they  mother. 

"A  pleasant  and  a  fruitful  land"  is  as  apt  and  inspired  a  description  of  the  Valley  of 
the  Fox  as  it  was  of  that  "Promised  Land"  into  which  the  ancient  Israelites  sent  their 
advance  spies  who  returned  laden  with  fruit  and  grapes. 

"A  fruitful  and  a  pleasant  land" — that  tells  the  whole  story!  A  land  that  nurtures 
its  own  people  in  fatness  and  plenty !    Not  a  lean  landscape ! 

In  all  this  there  is  more  than  a  hint  of  why  the  Fox  is  a  silver  thread  upon  which  is 
strung  a  succession  of  prosperous  villages,  towns  and  cities.  Fertility  breeds  ability  to 
buy,  hence  the  sturdy  commerce  of  the  Fox  River  country. 

Industry  has  found  the  Fox  River  Valley  as  generous  and  unfailing  a  mother  as  she 
has  been  to  agriculture  and  commerce.  Manufacture  has  grown  along  the  Fox  as  abun- 
dantly  as  the  crops  of  its  fields. 

I  like  to  think  that  the  people  of  this  valley  of  ours  are  almost  as  self-supporting  and 
self-sufficient  as  was  Robinson  Crusoe  on  his  solitary  island.  On  a  pinch  they  could  come 
closer  than  almost  any  other  community  with  which  I  am  familiar  to  taking  care  of  them- 
selves against  a  world  embargo. 

But  we  are  far  from  being  a  solitary  people.  A  swelling  tide  of  invasion  is  pouring  in  from 
all  directions,  but  mainly  from  Chicago.  In  Spring,  Summer  and  Autumn  it  seems  that 
all  roads  lead  to  the  Fox — a?  they  did  to  Rome — and  that  a  large  share  of  Chicago's  three 
million  inhabitants  are  rushing  on  rubber  to  the  Fox  as  to  a  new  gold  camp. 

To  me  this  invasion  is  not  altogether  agreeable.  Personally  I  like  privacy  and  a  land- 
scape which  is  not  overcrowded  with  human  beings,  and  I  would  much  prefer  to  make  the 
invasion  a  selective  one.  But  I  recognize  this  invasion  as  being  as  inevitable  as  the  West- 
ward course  of  the  sun.  The  influx  of  population  into  this  Valley  in  the  next  five  years 
will,  in  my  opinion,  astound  almost  everybody — excepting  Col.  Ira  C.  Copley,  Samuel 
Insull,  the  Chicago  Telephone  Company  and  those  other  persons  and  corporations  whose 
success  depends  upon  anticipating  the  big  shifts  of  population.  They  will  be  on  the 
ground  and  ready  to  reap  the  rich  harvest. 

In  fact,  they  are  already  on  the  ground  and  prepared  for  a  phenomenal  expansion. 
They  have  seen  the  Westward  turn  of  the  outgoing  tide  for  some  time  and  are  "all  set" 
to  accommodate  its  enormous  increase.  Taking  care  of  Chicago's  spill-over  is  their  specialty 
and  they  "know  their  stuff."  They  are  not  forgetting  that  the  enchanted  Valley  of  the 
Fox  is  less  than  one  hour  from  Chicago  by  thoroughly  modern  transportation  facilities 
and  that  present  facilities  can  be  easily  speeded  up  to  that  time  limit. 

Cement  highways  are  rapidly  reaching  out  from  Chicago  to  this  alluring,  livable 
Valley;  their  number  is  increasing  constantly.  St.  Charles  will  soon  have  her  direct 
cement  artery  and  others  are  heading  for  the  Fox. 

"Development"  is  coming  our  way  with  a  rush.  The  problem  of  the  moment  is  not 
that  of  stimulating  and  increasing  it,  but  of  checking 
it  with  selective  restraints.  The  Fox  River  Valley 
is  too  rare  and  too  charming  a  section  to  be  de- 
spoiled by  cheap  development.  The  protection 
against  this  is  for  the  freeholders  of  the  Fox  to 
realize  the  value  of  their  holdings,  to  treat  them 
with  protective  appreciation  and  not  to  part  with 
their  parcels  of  stray  New  England  landscape 
cheaply.  Shrewd  old  Omar  Khayam  once  wrote: 
"I  wonder  what  the  vintners  buy 
One  half  so  precious  as  the  stuff  they  sell." 

That's  the  way  I  feel 
about  the  Valley  of  the  Fox ! 


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i 


WORLD'S  LARGEST  GAME  FARM 


"Out  in  the  hinterland  beyond  St.  Charles  we  find  the  Wallace  Evans  game  farm. 
Here  deer  roam  the  hills,  swans  swim  in  little  lakes  and  wood  ducks  and  mallards  and 
canvasbacks  preen  in  the  watercourses.  Peacocks  spread  their  fans  and  pheasants,  gaily 
colored,  march  in  the  enclosures."" — Lester  B.  Colby,  Illinois  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

"Samuel  Evans1  estate  in  the  Fox  River  Valley  at  St.  Charles  is  the  world's  largest 
game  farm.  *  *  Samuel  and  Wallace  Evans  are  adepts  in  the  difficult  art — in  which  scores 
of  imitators  have  failed — of  raising,  in  captivity,  wild  game  birds  by  the  thousands.  This 
has  cost  years  of  intensive  scientific  observation  and  study  and  a  patience  and  persistence 
which  could  come  only  from  a  profound  love  of  this  strange  specialty.  Both  Samuel  and 
Wallace  Evans  are  consulted  by  ornithologists  of  national  reputation  as  well  as  by  govern' 
ors,  United  States  senators,  officials  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  and 
the  agricultural  and  game  departments  of  the  various  states.11 — Forrest  Crissey. 

ST.  CHARLES  SCHOOL  FOR  BOYS 

Made  Possible  by  the  Energy  and  Vision  of  the  Late  John  W.  Gates 
"Nearby  we  find  the  St.  Charles  School  for  Boys,  state  institution  for  delinquents; 
frankly,  a  reform  school.    But  you'd  hardly  recognise  it  as  such.    Col.  Frank  D.  Whipp, 
managing  officer,  acted  as  host  and  guide.    This  is  the  picture. 

"Eight  hundred  boys  on 
1,200  acres.  Neither  a  wall 
nor  a  barred  window.  The 
boys  are  divided  into  23 
'families1  scattered  about  in 
8  colonies.  Sixteen  school 
teachers  teach  8  grades;  in  all 
130  employees.  It  is  a  pleasant 
place  for  boys  even  to  lake  and 
park  and  zoo.  Its  health  de- 
partment includes  2  nurses,  a 
doctor  and  a  full  time  den- 
tist.11— Mr.  Lester  B.  Colby. 


[5] 


V 


HENRY  ROCKWELL  BAKER  MEMORIAL 
COMMUNITY  CENTER 

HE  words  "community"  and  "community  spirit"  are  heard  so  often  these  days 
that  their  value  may  have  been  blurred  by  repetition,  but  St.  Charles  has  a 
concrete  example  of  their  true  meaning  in  the  Henry  Rockwell  Baker  Me' 
morial  Community  Center. 

This  building  (together  with  the  site  and  a  handsome  endowment) 
is  an  outright  gift  to  their  townsmen  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  J.  Baker  in  memory  of  their 
only  son  who  thirteen  years  ago  died  in  early  manhood  and  whose  portrait  by  Mr.  Paul 
Trebilcock  greets  you  in  the  lounge.  The  building  also  memor.'alises  the  young  men  and 
women  from  St.  Charles  who  served  in  the  World  War,  of  whose  names  367  are  cast  in 
the  bronze  tablet  beside  the  entrance.  The  site  at  Walnut  Street  and  Second  Street  South 
was  once  the  home  of  a  local  Civil  War  Veteran,  Maj.  J.  S.  Van  Patten.  The  entire 
memorial  when  turned  over  to  the  people  represented  a  cost  of  about  $200,000.00;  its 
function  is  to  be  a  place  of  common  assembly,  and  an  inspiration  for  every-day  life  in 
St.  Charles. 

The  architects,  Messrs.  Wolf,  Sexton,  Harper  &  Trueax,  have  used  the  Mediaeval 
style  of  the  Tudors,  a  period  when  each  community  furnished  artisans  whose  creations 
are  still  admired.  Leaded  windows,  half-timbers,  stucco,  stone  and  brick  are  harmonized 
under  the  broad  sweep  of  the  slate  roofs.  Interior  decorations  are  of  the  same  general 
period,  and  the  furnishings  were  chosen  for  their  suitability.  The  grounds  have  been 
landscaped  under  the  supervision  of  the  Garden  Club  of  St.  Charles. 

We  think  this  institution  is  internationally  unique.  It  is  a  gift  from  local  donors, 
dedicated  to  local  ideals,  and  largely  built  by  local  craftsmen  who  worked  with  the  idea 
that  this  structure  shall  be  standing  500  years  hence,  stately  and  sturdy,  mellowed  by  time. 

Besides  containing  a  big  assembly  hall  and  stage,  a  lounge,  swimming-pool,  bowling 
alleys,  billiard  room,  kitchens,  lockers,  etc.,  rooms  have  been  assigned  to  several  social  and 
benevolent  societies. 


The  St.  Charles  Woman1?  Club,  a  pioneer  organisation  of  its  kind,  occupies  a  room 
on  the  second  floor.  The  Woman's  Club  has  long  been  an  influence  for  social  and  civic 
betterment  in  St.  Charles. 

A  younger  organization,  The  Business  and  Professional  Woman's  Club,  also  uses 
this  room  for  its  meetings. 

The  Boy  Scouts  have  been  assigned  third  floor  rooms  which  will  also  be  used  by  the 
Camp  Fire  Girls. 

The  American  Legion's  room  is  on  the  second  floor  and  with  its  appropriate  lounge 
furnishings,  is  maintained  by  the  St.  Charles  Post  No.  342  as  a  rest  room,  open  at  all  times 
to  all  veterans  of  the  World  War,  Spanish- American  War  and  the  Civil  War,  as  well  as 
a  local  post  room. 

Just  beneath  on  the  first  floor  to  the  left  of  the  entrance,  is  the  office  of  the  St.  Charles 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  is  a  general  information  bureau  at  the  service  of  the  public. 

The  Henry  Rockwell  Baker  Memorial  Community  Center  is  already  becoming  a 
Mecca  for  tourists  from  all  over  the  world. 


There  are  five  Boy  Scout  Troops  in  St.  Cha-les.   Below  may  bs  seen  the  color  guard 
<Troop  ?\[o.  1  with  Karl  Asplund,  a  local  pioneer  in  Scout  wor\  of  16  years"  service. 


X 


y 
^ 


PUBLIC  UTILITIES 
TELEPHONES  -  GAS  ~  ELECTRICITY  -  RATES 

WENTY'FIVE  years  ago  when  Mr.  Hearst's  cartoonists  were  depicting  a 

gross,  sinister  ogre  labeled  "The  Trusts,11  many  of  us  looked  askance  at  all 

combinations  of  manufacturing  or  financial  interests.    Today,  as  President 

Coolidge  says,  "The  people  of  America  are  learning  to  make  such  great 

concerns  their  most  faithful  servants.11 

The  people  of  St.  Charles  are  served  by  three  such  powerful  but  beneficent  genii : 

The  Illinois  Bell  Telephone  Company,  the  Public  Service  Company  of  Northern  Illinois 

and  the  Western  United  Gas  and  Electric  Company.   They  supply  services  and  products 

that  have  become  essentials  to  modern  life. 

Many  of  us  can  remember  when  there  was  just  one  telephone  in  St.  Charles.  Today 
three  out  of  four  families  have  them  in  their  homes.  Including  rural  subscribers  and  busi- 
ness houses,  1200  of  these  time  and  step'saving  instruments  are  listed  from  St.  Charles. 

Gas  for  cooking,  lighting  and  heating  for  domestic  and  industrial  purposes  has  been 
supplied  since  1902  by  the  Western  United  Gas  and  Electric  Company.  The  residents  of 
St.  Charles  have  seen  the  gas  business  develop  from  the  time  when  it  was  used  only  for 
lighting,  on  through  the  stages  where  it  has  taken  its  place  as  the  best  means  of  cooking, 
water-heating  and  now  for  heating  homes.    Over  1400  meters  are  installed  here. 

As  a  matter  of  business,  the  City  of  St.  Charles  finds  it  advantageous  to  buy  elec- 
tricity from  the  Public  Service  Company  of  Northerrrlllinois. 

Following  is  the  new  sliding  scale  of  prices  charged  by  the  City  for  electric  light  and  heat: 

a—    74  kw.  or  less 12  per  kw.         d —  5C0  kw.  to  1000  kw OCfper  kw. 

b —     75  kw.  to    250  kw 1 1  per  kw.         e — 1000  kw.  and  al!  over  that  amount  used 07  per  kw. 

c—  250  kw.  to    500  kw 10  per  kw. 

A  rebate  of  .02  per  kw.  on  bills  over  $1.00  paid  on  15th  day  of  succeeding  month. 


1  to    ICOkw OS 

101  to    500  kw 06 


Power  Rate: 

per  kw. 
per  kw. 


501  to  5000  kw 05       per  kw. 

5000  kw.  and  over 04  H  per  kw 


Residence,  4-party  $2.00;  2-party  $2.25; 


$0.01  discount  if  paid  on  15th  day  of  succeeding  month. 

Telephone  Rates: 

1 -party  $2.75.     Business  houses,  1 -party  $4.50;  2-party  $4.00. 

Gas  Rates: 

Domestic  Use:    $1.25  per  1000  cu.  ft.,  less  .05  per  1000  cu.  ft.  if  paid  within 
the  discount  period. 

Industrial  Use      0  to    50  hours  use  of  max.  dem.  per  mo.  $1.30 

50  to  100  hours  use  of  max.  dem.  per  mo.    1.25 

100  to  150  hours  use  of  max.  dem.  per  mo.    1.20 

150  to  200  hours  use  of  max.  dem.  per  mo.    1.15 

200  to  250  hours  use  of  max.  dem.  per  mo.    1.10 

Over  250  hours  use  of  max.  dem.  per  mo.    1.05 

Discount  for  prompt  payment  .05  per  1000  cu.  ft.     Minimum  Bill  $35.00  per 

month. 

Wholesale  Rate: 

85c  per  1000  cu.  ft.  for  the  first  1,000,000  cu.  ft.  per  mo. 
75c  per  M.  cu.  ft.  for  consumption  in  excess  of  last  above  amt.  per  mo. 
Minimum  Bill  $850.00  per  mo. 
House  Heating  Rate: — 

Maximum  demand  charge  $2.C0  per  mo.  per  100  cu.  ft. . 

of  hourly  demand. 
Consumption  charge:  80c  per  1000  cu.  ft. 
Discount  5c  per  1000  cu.  ft.  if  paid  within  discount  period. 
Rate  applied  from  October  1  to  May  31  following. 


CHURCHES 

At  present  there  are  in  St.  Charles  eight  separate  religious  bodies,  listed  alphabetically 
as  follows:  Christian  Science  Society,  Library  Hall,  East  Mam  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue 
South;  First  Congregational  Church,  Walnut  and  Third  Street  South;  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  Walnut  and  Fifth  Avenue  South;  Free  Methodist  Church,  Walnut 
and  Third  Street  South;  Lithuanian  Gospel  Church,  Fourth  Street  South  and  Indiana 
Street;  St.  Mark's  Evangelical  Lutheran  (German),  Walnut  and  Fourth  Avenue  South; 
St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church,  Cedar  and  Fourth  Street  North;  Swedish  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Bethlehem  Church,  Walnut  and  Seventh  Avenue  South. 

"In  my  public  spea\mg  travels  to  every  part  of  this  country  during  past  years  I  have  visited  many 
cities  and  towns,  but  to  me  the  beautiful  Fox  River  Valley  with  its  live  church  and  civic  organizations,  its 
educational  facilities,  its  modern  business  districts  and  its  abundant  outdoor  recreational  advantages,  is 
the  most  entrancing  and  livable  of  any  territory  I  have  ever  sen." — Hon.  Harold  Kessinger,  State  Senator. 


[9] 


THE  CABLE  COMPANY 

A  WORLD  FAMOUS 
PIANO  MANUFACTURING  INSTITUTION 

One  of  St.  Charles'  most  important  industries  is  to  be  found  in  the  piano  factory  of 
The  Cable  Company,  located  on  the  Fox  River.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  largest  piano 
manufacturers  in  the  middle  west,  and  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  best  known. 

The  general  offices  of  The  Cable  Company  are  in  Chicago,  where  another  large  factory 
is  located.  In  1899  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  Chicago  factory  could  no  longer  take 
care  of  their  rapidly  increasing  business,  the  present  site  in  St.  Charles  was  chosen  for  a 
new  factory.  St.  Charles  was  selected  as  the  most  advantageous  location  for  the  new 
factory  because  of  the  beauty  and  convenience  of  the  site  on  the  banks  of  the  Fox  River, 
and  because  it  provided  ideal  working  and  living  conditions  for  employees.  With  a  rail' 
road  branch  line  running  to  the  factory  door,  this  factory  enjoys  unusual  transportation 
facilities. 

The  Cable  factory  not  only  gives  employment  to  many  people  already  in  St.  Charles, 
but  it  has  also  attracted  many  people  to  St.  Charles.  The  majority  of  the  employees,  in' 
eluding  most  of  the  foremen  and  many  of  the  factory  officials  live  in  St.  Charles.  The 
general  superintendent  of  the  two  Cable  factories  and  the  superintendent  of  the  St.  Charles 
factory  make  their  homes  here. 

This  factory  is  famous  for  its  beautiful  location.  Every  effort  has  been  made  to  in' 
crease  its  great  natural  beauty.  The  river  bank  has  been  landscaped  and  with  the  small 
island  just  opposite  the  factory  makes  a  most  attractive  picture.  Well-kept  lawns  and 
attractive  shrubs  and  flower  beds  surround  the  factory  buildings.  The  Cable,  factory  is 
famous  throughout  the  entire  music  industry  as  a  model  factory.  It  is  one  of  the  cleanest 
and  most  efficient  of  its  kind. 

The  Cable  factory  brings  St.  Charles  in  touch  with  almost  every  part  of  the  world. 
From  India  and  Africa  come  ivory  for  the  keys,  from  Australia  comes  wool  for  the  hammers. 
Rich  veneers  are  brought  from  Mexico,  South  America,  and  the  gold  coast  of  Africa. 
Pianos  made  in  St.  Charles  are  in  turn  distributed  all  over  the  world.  The  Cable  Company 
have  dealers  in  Spain,  Italy,  British  East  Africa,  Japan,  Australia,  and  many  other  impor- 
tant foreign  points. 


X 


o 


£T* 


St.  Charles  won  the  1926-1927 
Bas\et-ball  tournament  at  Dun- 
dee. 


THE  MOLINE  MALLEABLE  IRON  COMPANY 

The  Moline  Malleable  Iron  Co.  is  one  of  the  pioneer  makers  of  malleable  castings  and 
detachable  and  riveted  chains.  It  was  established  in  1869  at  Moline,  Illinois,  but  moved 
to  St.  Charles  in  1893. 

In  1915  the  old  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  Company  at  once  rebuilt  a  modern, 
absolutely  fireproof  plant,  thoroughly  covered  by  sprinkler  system.  It  is,  perhaps,  the 
brightest  lighted  foundry  in  the  world,  having  a  glazed  area  of  50,000  sq.  ft.,  or  70  per  cent 
of  the  walled  area.  Good  light  in  a  foundry,  while  unusual,  is  very  essential  in  producing 
clean  moulds  and  for  rigid  inspection  of  the  finished  casting.  Heat  and  ventilation,  aided 
by  construction  and  height  of  the  roof,  are  under  control  of  a  modern  blower  system 
supplemented  by  swinging  steel  window  sashes.  Working  conditions  are,  naturally, 
excellent. 

The  plant  is  U-shaped.  Pattern  shop  and  core-room  begin  the  process  of  progressive 
manufacture,  followed  by  the  foundry,  hard-iron  inspection  and  grinding,  annealing,  assem- 
bling and  shipping.   There  is  no  doubling  back.   Material  is  routed  in  one  direction. 

The  Moline  Malleable  Iron  Co.  is,  and  has  been  since  its  establishment  in  St.  Charles, 
one  of  the  largest  and  best  industries  in  the  community,  furnishing  steady  employment  to 
a  large  number  of  skilled  laborers. 

The  Moline  Malleable  Iron  Co.  has  53  years  of  experience  behind  it  and  an  organiza- 
tion composed  of  men  with  records  of  years  of  loyal  service. 

JANES  &  KIRTLAND,  INC. 

This  industry  was  located  in  St.  Charles  about  1900  as  the  Faultless  Iron  Works. 
It  occupies  a  high  class  factory  building  lying  just  west  of  the  plant  of  the  Moline  Malleable 
Iron  Co.  and  manufactures  white  enameled  steel  ware, 
specializing  in  white  enameled  steel  dressers  which  largely 
go  into  the  ultra-exclusive  apartment  homes  of  New  York 
City.  Janes  &  Kirtland,  Inc.,  has  established  an  enviable 
reputation  for  quality  products.  It  furnishes  employment 
to  50  hands. 

"Charles  M.  Schwab,  steel  magnate,  .  .  .  was  ar.\ed  .  .  .  which 
portion  of  the  middle'west  he  considered  was  in  line  for  the  largest  de- 
velopment in  the  years  to  come.  Mr.  Schwab  replied  that  in  his  opinion 
the  district  lying  west  and  north  of  Chicago,  taking  in  .  .  .  the  broad 
expanses  of  the  Fox  River  Valley,  was  the  section  holding  forth  the  great 
opportunities  for  future  development." — Elgin  Couner-J^ews. 


HI] 


The  Crown  Electrical  M/g 
Co.  is  filling  the  world's  larg 
est  single  order  for  lamps 
5500,  for  the  world's  larges 
hotel,  the  Hote!  Stevens 
Chicago. 


CROWN  ELECTRICAL  MANUFACTURING 

COMPANY 

The  Crown  Electrical  Manufacturing  Co.  has  been  located  in  St.  Charles  since  1892. 

Their  first  business  was  the  manufacture  of  gas  lighting  fixtures.  This  type  of  fix- 
tures has  long  been  discontinued  and  now  the  manufacture  of  a  general  line  of  electric 
lighting  fixtures  and  floor,  bridge,  table  and  boudoir  lamps. 

The  factory  of  the  Company  is  modern  and  ranks  well  up  with  the  other  large  lighting 
fixture  factories  in  the  United  States.  It  is  one  of  the  substantial  institutions  of  St.  Charles 
and  pays  out  a  large  amount  each  year  as  wages  to  residents  of  the  city. 

In   1910   the  owners  of  this 
Company  assisted  m  the  organ-  ST  CHARLES  LAUNDRY  CO. 

Ration  of  the  Crown  Electrical 
Manufacturing  Company  at 
Brantford,  Ontario,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  care  of  their  Can- 
adian business.  This  Company 
is  doing  a  very  large  and  profit- 
able business  in  the  manufacture 
of  substantially  the  same  line  as 
the  St.  Charles  Company  is  man- 
ufacturing. 


***^ 


The  St.  Charles  Laundry  Co.  occupies  a  new  fire- 
proof building  equipped  with  modern  laundry 
machinery,  situated  just  south  of  the  Crown  Elec- 
trical Mfg.  Co.  building.  They  employ  15  hands. 
This  company  specialises  in  rough  and  wet  wash 
laundry  work. 

ST.  CHARLES  FIXTURE 
MFG.  COMPANY. 

This  Company  manufactures  hand-made  lighting 
fixtures  of  character  and  refinement  which  have 
established  for  themselves  a  reputation  for  quality 
and  prestige,  the  like  of  which  is  rather  unusual  in 
any  industry. 

"High  quality  exclusively"  was  the  slogan  of 
those  who  organised  the  Company  m  1908,  and  no 
deviation  from  this  policy  has  ever  been  permitted. 

The  quality  of  work  done  by  this 
Company  can  be  fudged  by  an  exami- 
nation of  the  fixtures  m  the  Henry  Rock- 
well Baker  Community  Center,  the  new 
National  Bank  Bldg.,  the  new  Country 
Club. 


[12] 


Race  suicide?  H<>-  On 
April  30,  1926  there  were 
1,781  children  under  20  years 


M&:<     " 


ST.  CHARLES  NET  AND  HAMMOCK  COMPANY 

Est.  1906  Inc.  1909 

This  Company  sells  Couch  Hammocks,  Basket  Ball  Goals,  Woven  Minnow  Seins 
and  other  textile  specialties  from  coast  to  coast,  and  is  rated  amongst  the  four  national 
leaders  in  their  line.    Expert  supervision,  modern  machinery  and  valuable  patents  have 

eliminated  hand  work  from 


GLENN  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

Established  over  60  years  ago  and  at  one  time  the  only 
manufacturing  plant  in  St.  Charles,  it  has  a  long  and  hon- 
orable record  as  a  gray  iron  foundry.  It  occupies  a  three- 
acre  tract  on  the  river  front  just  south  of  West  Main 
Street,  is  operated  by  water-power  and  served  by  the 
Chicago  6?  Northwestern  Railway.  Its  products  are 
plumbers'  supplies  and  jobbing  castings. 


the  weaving  in  this  factory 
which  is  one  of  the  best 
equipped  and  most  modern 
in  the  country.  Its  floor 
space  is  31,700  sq.  ft.,  and 
it  employs  75. 

They  maintain  an  office 
and  salesroom  at  No.  666, 
Lake  Shore  Drive,  Chicago. 


JENSEN-KOHLERT  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 

This  company  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  metal  specialties,  largely  patented 
products,  the  result  of  the  mechanical  genius  of  Mr.  Lawrence  Jensen,  active  head  of  firm. 

NEWCOMBE-HAWLEY,  INC. 

This  Company  is  one  of  St.  Charles1  newest  industries  and  one 
of  its  largest.    Newcombe-Hawley,  Inc.,  located  here  three  years 
ago,  taking  over  the  plant  of  the  American  Seamless  Container 
Company.    Since  then  it  has  expanded  into  the  former  Borden 
Condensing  Co.  building,  and  further  expansion  is  in  prospect. 
Its  principal  product  is  Radio  loud  speakers  which  alone  is  almost 
sufficient  explanation  for  its  youth  and  rapid  growth.    If 
we  add  that  Mr.  Jess  Hawley,  of  Dartmouth  football 
fame,  is  the  "Hawky,"  and  that  Mr.  Newcombe  is  of 
equal  capacity,  you  have  the  complete  explanation  of  this 
growth.   This  Company  employs  135  hands. 


13 


y 
^ 


THE  GLOBE 
MUSIC  CO. 

The  Globe  Music  Com- 
pany moved  to  St.  Charles 
from  Chicago  in  1915 
with  a  small  force  of  men. 
Since  then  the  Company 
has  grown  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  its  plant  now 
occupies  two  acres  of 
land,  and  it  has  taken  an 
important  place  among  the  major  industries  of  St.  Charles. 

The  Company  manufactures  stringed  musical  instruments,  such 
as  Guitars,  Mandolins,  Banjos,  Banjo  Ukeleles  and  Ukeleles.  The 
normal  output  is  about  250,000  instruments  per  year. 


C.  H.  HOLMSTROM  &  COMPANY 
This  is  a  new  industry  to  St.  Charles — located  in  the  Universal  Press  Building.   It  is 
equipped  to  do  first  class  bookbinding,  including  novelties.    "The  Holmstrom  bindery 
does  highly  satisfactory  work  for  us11  advises  the  head  of  one  of  our  large  manufactories. 

ST.  CHARLES  NICKEL  WORKS 

This  firm  does  nickel  plating  and  polishing  and  mechanical  p la  ling,  and  has  a  reputa- 
tion for  high  class  work.   It  specialises  in  steel  stampings. 


THE  UNIVERSAL  PRESS 
The  publications  of  this  concern  are 
known  all  over  the  United  States  and 
abroad — in  fact,  wherever  books  are  sold. 
The  firm  issues  an  attractive  illustrated 
catalogue  of  gift  books  which  will  be 
mailed  free  upon  request  to  any  address, 
and  the  books  will  be  found  on  display  in 
all  of  the  leading  bookstores  and  depart- 
ment stores  throughout  the  country. 

During  the  year   1926  over  100,000  boo\s  were  shipped  out  of  St. 
Charles\to  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 


ST.  CHARLES  PAPER  BOX  CO. 

If  the  art  of  making  paper  boxes  appears 
a  simple,  minor  matter,  stop  in  some  day 
on  the  St.Charles  Paper  Box  Company  and 
inspect  its  8,000  square  feet  of  floor  space 
laden  with  machinery  about  which  34  em- 
ployees are  busily  engaged  daily.  You  will 
be  surprised.  This  Company  makes  all 
manner  of  set-up  boxes,  plain  and  fancy. 
It  was  established  in  St.  Charles  in  1919. 


[14] 


RAY  C.  JUDD 

Mr.  Ray  C.  Judd  is  one  of  America's  largest  exporters  of  and  dealer  in  high  class 
dairy  cattle  and  an  extensive  breeder  of  blooded  cattle.  During  the  year  1920  he  held  a 
contract  (one  of  two  in  the  United  States)  with  the  French  Government  for  re-stocking 
France  with  dairy  cattle,  and  he  exports  annually  4,000  head  of  cattle  to  old  Mexico. 
Mr.  Judd  got  his  start  in  the  Chicago  dairy  district,  the  greatest  in  the  world,  of  which 
St.  Charles  is  about  the  geographical  center. 

Mr.  Judd's  dairy  barn  on  his  farm  west  of  St.  Charles  is  one  of  the  most  modern  in 
the  country. 

ANDERSON  ICE  CREAM  COMPANY 

The  Anderson  Ice  Cream  Company  makes  bulk  and  brick  ice  cream  and  about  every- 
thing that  tastes  good  in  frozen  ice  and  milk.  "Anderson's  cream  is  just  a  little  better  than 
most  other  creams11  is  common  talk  in  the  Fox  River  Valley. 

ILLINOIS  CLEANERS  AND  DYERS 
Starting  with  one  man  in  1915,  this  Company  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  largest  dry 
cleaning  establishments  in  the  country,  employing  75  hands  and  keeping  15  trucks  con- 
stantly in  motion  over  Northern  Illinois.   It  is  now  located  in  a  modern  dry  cleaning  plant 
which  is  to  be  enlarged  in  the  near  future  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  business. 

S.  W.  PIKE,  SEEDSMAN 

This  is  a  name  becoming  nationally  known  to  lovers  of  gardening.  Mr.  Pike  started 
this  business  in  1887  with  a  small  greenhouse  which  for  many  years  specialised  in  cut 
flowers.  In  recent  years  he  has  put  his  main  energies  into  a  seed,  bulb  and  plant  mail 
order  department. 

THE  ST.  CHARLES  MEMORIAL  WORKS 

Supplies  cut  stone  monuments  for  most  of  those  who  die  in  St.  Charles  and  its  vicinity 
— for  the  span  of  life  eventually  ccmes  to  an  end  even  in  this  beautiful  Valley  of  the  Fox. 

McCORNACK  OIL  COMPANY 

Mr.  Charles  S.  McCornack  established  an  independent  oil  business  in  St.  Charles  in 
1904.  This  business  has  experienced  a  healthy  growth  until  today,  with  branches  in 
Elburn,  Geneva  and  other  adjacent  communities,  it  ranks  as  one  of  the  largest  petroleum 
products  distributors  in  this  territory. 

CHRONICLE  PUBLISHING  CO.,  INC. 

This  firm  has  a  modern  printing  plant.  They  are  the  printers  of  this  booklet,  and  are 
publishers  of  the  local  newspaper,  The  St.  Charles  Chronicle. 


STATISTICAL  DATA 

POPULATION 

Shown  by  April  30,  1926,  Special  Federal  Census 

Total  Population,  5,118:  males  2,640;  females  2,478 

Under  20  years,  1,781;  over  70  years,  168 

Percentage  Increase  in  6  years,  3  months,  23  days — 24.8 

Total  Number  Families,  1,287;  Homes  Owned,  866;  Homes  Rented,  421;  Percentage  Heme  Owners,  67-2; 
Individuals  Employed  in  Chicago  174,  Geneva  88,  Elgin  41,  Batavia  34,  Aurora  13,  Other  Cities  32 


ASSESSED  VALUATION 

Assessed  valuation  for  City  of  St.  Charles  on  Real  Estate  for  the 
years : 

1922  1923  1924  1925  1926 

$930,987.00   $938,073.00  $939,279.00   $960,353.00    $1,029,004.00 
showing  a  substantial  gain  for  each  of  past  5  years. 

The  total  assessed  valuation  for  the  City  for  the  year  1926 
was  $1,673,198.00. 

(For  those  who  do  not  know,  it  might  be  stated  that  the  assessed 
valuation  is  interesting  only  as  a  base  for  Taxation,  a  basis  of 
comparison,  and  as  it  applies  to  the  constitutional  limitation  on 
a  city's  indebtedness.  Under  the  present  Law,  The  Assessed 
Value  is  one-half  of  the  "full  value"  ascertained  by  the  Assessor 
and  the  various  supervising  bodies;  but  this  "full  value,"  in 
practice,  is  about  one-third  of  the  real  value.) 
INDEBTEDNESS 

Under  the  constitutional  indebtedness  limitation  of  5%  of  the 
assessed  value,  St.  Charles  could  carry  a  maximum  indebtedness 
of  $83,659.90. 

The  actual  indebtedness  of  the  City  of  St.  Charles  on  January 
1,  1927  was  nothing,  a  remarkable  showing  for  a  modern  munici- 
pality. 

The  figures  on  the  City's  indebtedness  in  detail  are  as  follows: 

1 — for  Genera!  City  Bonds  Outstanding $6,000.00 

2 — For  Judgments  against  it  and  Unpaid nil 

3— Total  for  Outstanding  Public  Benefit  Bonds  (all  kinds)  $15,500.00 
4 — For  Outstanding  "No  Fund"  Warrants nil 


Total  City  Indebtedness $21,500.00 

On  deposit  with  City  Treasurer  in  special  fund  is  $17,686.79  to 

pay  off  the  above  $15,500.00  Public  Benefit  Bonds,  with  interest, 

as  rapidly  as  they  can  be  collected. 

Surplus  (in  addition  to  last  above  named  special  fund)  in  general 

city  fund  was  on  January  1,  1927  $8,086.01,  or  more  than  enough 

to  pay  off  the  $6,000.00  in  Outstanding  Bonds  (which  have  been 

called)  with  interest. 


TAX  RATE  IN  CITY  OF  ST.  CHARLES 
(Per  cent,  of  Assessed  Value  for  past  three  years) 


1924 

State 65 

County 1.00 


Town 

City 

Road  and  Bridge .... 

Road  Bond 

Library 

Parks 

Forest  Preserve 

Conservancy  District 
School  Dist.  87.  .. 
High  School 


.17 
1.99 

.66 
.056 
.18 
.144 


1.39 


.790 


1925 
.85 
•  75 
-17 

1.95 
.60 
.09 
.18 
.14 
.05 

2.58 
1.55 

8.91 


1926 
.65 
•  75 
.17 

1.67 
.60 
.09 
.18 
.15 
.05 
.08 

2.71 

1.77 

8.87 


TAX  RATE  OF  CHICAGO  AND  SUBURBS 
Eeanng  in  mind  the  above  1926  total  of  8.87,  notice  the  follow- 
ing total  1926  tax  rates  for  Chicago  and  some  suburbs,  according 
to  the  "Chicago  Tribune"  of  Feb.  25,  1927: 
Chicago  average  is  between  9.00  and  10.00  per  cent,  of  assessed 
value. 


Evans  ton  average  is.  .. .  11.41 

May  wood 13.06 

Oak  Park 12.61 

River  Forest 12.41 

Berwyn 12.69 

Forest  Park 12.64 

Chicago  Heights 11.99 

DesPlaines 12.27 


Glencoe 12.65 

Kenilworth 11.94 

La  Grange 11.64 

Melrose  Park 12.25 

Park  Ridge 11.93 

Riverside 10.54 

Wilmette 12.34 

Winnetka 12.14 


CITY  OFFICIALS 

Incorporated  as  a  city  in  1874,  St.  Charles  is  to-day  governed 
by  a  mayor  and  6  aldermen.  It  has  police  force  of  3  (ample  enough 
for  present  conditions)  and  a  very  efficient  fire  department  of  8 
volunteer  men  and  a  chief  and  assistant  chief.  The  fire  rate  for 
the  city  is  under  Basis  Table  No.  1. 

STREETS— NAMES  AND  NUMEERS 

A  modified  Philadelphia  street-numbering  system  allowing  100 
numbers  to  the  block  is  used,  Main  St.  and  the  River  being  the 
base  lines.  Thoroughfares  on  the  East  side  are  "avenues"  while 
those  on  the  West  side  aie  "streets."  Streets  and  avenues  parallel 
to  the  River  are  numbered  "first,"  "second,"  etc.,  and  are  further 
qualified  as  "North"  or  "South"  of  their  intersection  of  Main  St. 
POST  OFFICE 

The  Post  Office  is  second  class  with  2  Rural  Tree  Delivery 
Routes.  Number  of  employees  is  13  of  whom  4  are  City  Carriers. 
The  report  for  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1926  showed  postal 
receipts  of  $21,461.81,  a  gain  of  22^-5%  over  the  preceding  year 
and  the  largest  receipts  to  date. 

PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS 

The  following  figures  show  that  to  date  42%  of  our  city  street 
mileage  is  paved: 

Total  Length  of  Streets 30.4  mi. 

Total  Brick  Pavement 1.5  mi. 

Total  Concrete  Pavement 1 1 . 5  mi. 

Total  Sanitary  Sewers 20.0  mi. 

Total  Water  Mains 20.0  mi. 

(Authority:  Wells  Engineering  Company) 
Petitions  are  out  for  more  paving  during  the  next  year. 

BRIDGES 

The  people  of  St.  Charles  purpose  to  widen  the  Modern  Con- 
crete bridge  at  Main  St.  to  full  street  width.  This  will  help  the 
flux  of  traffic  bound  to  result  from  the  completion  of  the  Chicago- 
Iowa  Trail  (Route  64)  in  the  near  future.  The  formal  proposition 
will,  in  all  probability,  be  put  before  the  voters  soon  after  the 
publication  fo  this  booklet. 

In  addition  to  the  Main  Street  Bridge,  St.  Charles  has  a  sub- 
stantial Foot  Bridge  at  Prairie  Street. 


AUTHENTIC  INDUSTRIAL  DATA 

[Supplied  by  14  Leading  Industries 
For  the  14  Industries 
Total  No.  Employees,  1,257;  Total  Floor  Space,  536,824  sq.  ft.;  Total  Annual  Incoming  Freight,  27,627 
Tons;  Total  Annual  Outgoing  Freight,  13,629  Tons. 

Five  of  these  Industries  use  electric  power;  three  use  steam;  two  use  water;  one  uses  water  and  electric; 
one  uses  steam  and  electric;  two  use  no  power. 

Total  Annual  Pay  Roll  of  12  (data  incomplete  on  two  largest  Industries)  of  these  Industries  is  $881,499.00. 
April  30,  1926,  Federal  census  showed  382  St.  Charles  residents  employed  outside  our  city. 


FOX  RIVER  at  ST.  CHARLES 

Pottawatomie  Par\"lndian  Mounds'"Underwoods'" Orchard  Hill 

Oa\  Ridge  Camp'-Pinelands—lO  Miles  of 

Pictures^"  Conservancy  District 

1 

I  ROM  the  St.  Charles  dam,  North,  is  a  stretch  of  unob- 

structed  current  generally  conceded  to  be  the  most 
beautiful  ten .  miles  of  the  Fox  River  Valley.  The 
banks  are  clean-cut  and  slope  back  into  a  picture  of 
grass  and  foliage  patterned  into  fields  and  dotted  with 
Summer  homes  and  country  estates. 

A  State  paved  highway  follows  the  heights  on  the 
West  side  while  surveys  and  advance  bridge-construe 
tion  promise  a  similar  road  on  the  other  shore  which  is 
already  served  by  the  Aurora,  Elgin  &  Fox  River 
Electric  Line. 

The  quaint  pavilion  and  wooded  slope  of  Potta- 
watomie   Park    are    well    known    to    many    Chicago 
people.     The  natural  beauty   is   still  unspoiled,  and 
many    improvements    and    conveniences    have    been 
IB  SI     added  by  the  Park  Commissioners. 

Just  beyond  is  Jones1  Woods — 80  acres  of  virgin  timber,  and  one  of  the  holdings  of 
Mr.  Lester  J.  Norris  who  also  owns  Rainbo  Springs,  an  adjoining  Summer  resort. 

The  rustic  cottages  of  Underwoods  are  on  the  opposite  shore  behind  the  mouth  of 
Ferson  Creek  whose  leafy  tunnel  has  inspired  more  than  one  study  in  color  by  Chicago 
artists.  Further  along  this  shore  you  can  see  the  mellow  old  bricks  of  Wild  Rose  Inn,  and 
the  automobiles  moving  by  despoiled  Indian  mounds,  and  farms  and  Summer  dwellings. 

Camps,  handsome  estates  and  flourishing  subdivisions  mark  the  curves  of  the  East 
Shore's  continuation.  Alta  Vista  (the  home  of  Mr.  R.  F.  Angell)  tops  the  green  hill  which 
serves  as  a  background  for  Calamus  Lodge  and  Orchard  Hill — Orchard  Hill,  whose  harvest 
now-a-days  is  the  augmented  health  and  morale  of  those  youngsters  spending  their  Summers 
there.  At  River  Grove  Additions  are  over  50  homes  and  Summer  cottages,  many  of  which 
belong  to  Chicagoans. 

Just  above  Norton's  Creek  is  Oak  Ridge  Camp,  the  achievement  of  two  St.  Charles 
women  who  were  first  to  capitalize  the  River's  attraction.  Pinelands,  directly  North,  is 
also  known  for  its  dance  music  and  its  wholesome,  restful  cottage-colony  as  well. 

Beyond  are  Villa  Maria,  Cedar  Rock,  Silver  Glen  and  the  Old  War  Trail  at  Five 
Islands  where  the  River  flows  toward  Puget  Sound,  miles  of  pleasant  shore-line  and  a 
clear  stream  for  bathing,  fishing  and  boating. 

The  reader  may  credit  Fox  River's  reputation  for  beauty  and  sport,  and  still  question 
its  healthfulness.  An  analysis  of  this  water,  made  not  long  since  for  Dr.  R.  J.  Lambert 
of  Orchard  Hill,  showed  a  lower  bacterial  count  than  the  average  at  Chicago  bathing 
beaches,  with  a  slightly  higher  vegetable  content. 

Nature  gave  the  River  its  pristine  beauty  and  purity,  but  man's  foresight  is  needed 
to  save  them  under  future  conditions.  The  Fox  River  Valley  Federation  is  sponsoring  a 
conservancy  district,  linking  the  whole  Valley  from  beginning  to  end  with  the  common 
object  of  controlling  sewage,  preventing  possible  pollution  and  regulating  the  water 
supply.  Such  an  organization  will  also  be  able  to  improve  the  fishing,  beautify  the  hanks, 
dredge  the  channel  and  even  install  locks  for  power-boating  as  the  future  may  demand. 
The  Conservancy  Drainage  District  Proposition  was  authorized  by  the  voters  last  Fall. 


[17 


ER    A,T 


To   CHARLE 


"Within  the  next  twenty 'five 
years,  1,000,000  newcomers 
will  settle  in  suburban  Chicago, 
the  population  forcasters  say.'" 
—CHICAGO  HEWS. 


my 


ST.  CHARLES  NATIONAL  BANK 

Newest  Bank  Building  in  the  Fox  River  Valley  and  the  most  modern  and  elaborate 
of  its  size  in  the  country;  cost  $200,000.00. 

"They  opened  the  bank  the  other  day,  and  I,  rediscovering  Illinois,  was  there  to  see 
it.  This  village  bank's  home  cost  about  $200,000.00.  It  is  of  marble  with  beautiful  bronze 
furniture  and  tall  bronze  vases  and  amazing  equipment.  It  is  probably  the  most  richly 
furnished  bank  of  its  size  in  the  world.  It  is  complete  even  to  machine-gun  emplacements. " 
— Lester  B.  Colby,  Illinois  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Capital  $50,000.00  Surplus  and  Undivided  Profits  $51,543.13  Deposits  $857,103.99  Opened  for  Business 
April,  1902 

Directors:  C.  W.  Bolcum,  B.  C.  Getzelman, 
Jas.  S.  Richmond,  Geo.  K.  Tanner,  E.  J.  Baker, 
Ray  W.  Matteson,  Jos.  W.  Gartner,  Dr.  C.  A. 
Potter,  P.  S.  Nichol. 

C.  Jay  Marvin,  Cashier:  W.  J.  Riordan, 
Asst.  Cashier;  C.  W.  Bolcum,  President;  Geo. 
K.  Tanner,  Vice  President. 


STEWART 
STATE  BANK 

The  pioneer  bank  of  St.  Charles; 
f    established  in  1858  and  has  on  file  a 
|  check  drawn  and  paid  at  that  date; 
substantial,  modern  building. 

Capital  $100,000.00  Surplus  and  Undivided 
Profits  $68,403.04  Deposits  $1,317,44778 

Directors:  Floyd  Bergland,  J.  W.  Chaffee, 
Philip  DeBruyne,  R.  C.  Judd,  C.  S.  McCornack, 
C.  W.  Norris,  John  Stewart. 

J.  W.  Chaffee,  President,  C.  S.  McCornack, 
Vice  President,  John  Stewart,  Cashier. 


, *,;,, 


[20 


BENEVOLENT  AND  SOCIAL  ORGANIZATIONS 

The  following   benevolent  and   social   organizations   are  represented  in 
St.  Charles: 


A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Unity  Lodge  No.  48 

American  Legion,  Post  No.  342 

Boy  Scouts 

Business  6?  Professional  Women's  Club 

Camp  Fire  Girls 

Central  City  Rebekah  Lodge 

Chamber  of  Commerce 

Danish  Brotherhood,  Lodge  No.  92 

Danish  Ladies1  Society 

D.  L.  K.  Vitautas  (Lithuanian) 

I.  O.  O.  F.  Enc.  No.  13;  Lodge  No.  14 

KlWANIS 

Ledstjernan  Society  (Swedish) 
Lithuanian  Sons  6?  Daughters 
Loyal  Order  of  Moose 


Mystic  Workers  of  the  World 

Modern  Brotherhood  of  America 

Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  Camp  No.  602 

Royal  Neighbors,  Fox  Valley  Camp  No.  6412 

St.  Charles  Garden  Club 

St.  Charles'Geneva  Home  Protective  Assn. 

St.  Charles  Women's  Club 

St.  Charles  Women's  Mooseheart  Ln.  No.  512 

St.  George  Lithuanian  Society 

Sons  &  Daughters  of  America 

Vikings.  Neptune  Lodge  No.  35,  I.  O.  V. 

Ladies'  Order  Same,  Daga  Lodge  No.  20 

Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union 

Young  Mothers'  Club 

Women's  Relief  Corps  No.  306 


Until  1926,  St.  Charles  was  honored  by  a  local  post  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  the  Elon  J.  Farnsworth  Post  No.  456- 
The  abandonment  of  this  Post  marked  an  historical  epoch  in  St.  Charles. 


Chicago  Railway  Connections 

CHICAGO  6?  NORTHWESTERN  RAILWAY 

Effective  January  2,  1927 


Chicago  Great  Western  R.  R.  Co. 

Effective  March  1,1927 


Eastbound 

DAILY— EXCEPT  SUNDAYS 

Westbound 

Leave 

Arrive 

Leave 

Arrive 

Eastbound 

: 

Westbound 

St.  Charles 

Chicago 

Chicagc 

i 

St 

.  Charles 

Leave 

Arrive 

Leave 

Arrive 

A.M. 

A.M. 

A.M. 

A.M. 

St.  Charles 

Chicago 

Chicago 

St.  Charles 

6.30 

7.47 

6.20 

8.15 

A.M. 

A.M. 

A.M. 

A.M. 

7.18 

8.40 

7.24 

8.30 

8.00 

9.12 

8.30 

9.55 

P.M. 

P.M. 

P.M. 

P.M. 

P.M. 

P.M. 

P.M. 

P.M. 

7.02 

8.25 

0.30 

7.39 

2.53 

(Sat.  only) 

4.50 

1.24 

(Sat. 

only) 

2.48 

A.M. 

6.25 

(Exc.  Sat.) 

7.45 

5.05 

(Exc.  Sat.) 

6.22 

11.30 

12.38 

6.53 

8.30 

5.25 

6.48 

Chicago,  Aurora  &  Elgin  R.  R.  Co. 

Effective  'November  25,  1926 


Eastbound 

Leave        Arrive 

St.           Chi- 

Charles        cago 

Leave 

St. 
Charles 

Arrive 
Chi- 
cago 

DAILY-EXCEPT  SUNDAYS 

Leave        Arrive        Leave        Arrive        Leave 

St.           Chi-          Chi-           St.           Chi- 

Charles        cago           cago        Charles        cago 

Arrive 

St. 
Charles 

Leave 
Chi- 
cago 

Westbound 

Arrive    

St 

Charles  

Iwc     5.35 

7.10 

Iwc    11.12 

12.46 

Iwc     6.12 
7.06 

Iwc     7.52 
8.00 

7.59 
8.42 
9.20 
9.42 

lew   5.30 

7.04 

lew     2.00 

3.28 

lew     6.10 

7.44     

Iwc     6.03 
Iwc     6.25 
Iwc     7  05 

7.48 
8.03 
8.39 
9.05 
10.10 
11.10 

in  LIG] 

Arrive 
Chi- 
cago 

Iwc    12.43 
Iwc     2.12 

2.16 
3.51 

lew   7.00 
lew   8.00 

8.34 
9.33 

lew     3.30 
lew     4.22 

4.58 
5.49 

7.25 
lew     9.00 

9.02     

10.33     

Iwc     7.30 
Iwc     8.43 
Iwc     9.43 

Iwc     3.52 
Iwc     5.12 

5.36 
6.43 

9.25 
11.30 

10.58 

1.09 

lew   9.30 

lew  11.00 

.  lew  12.30 

SUNDAYS 

Leave 
Chi- 
cago 

10.59 

12.31 

2.02 

Arrive 

St. 
Charles 

lew     5.15 
lew     5.45 

6.55 
7.20 

lew   10.30 
lew    12.00 

11.57     

1.21     

A.  M.  time 

Leave 

St. 
Charles 

3T  figures 

Leave 

St. 
Charles 

Arrive 
Chi- 
cago 

Leave 

St. 
Charles 

Arrive 
Chi- 
cago 

Leave 
Chi- 
cago 

Arrive 

St. 
Charles 

P.  M.  time 

Leave 
Chi- 
cago 

in  HEAVY  figures 

Arrive    

St 

Charles  

6.50 
Iwc     8.21 
Iwc     9.50 
Iwc    11.21 
Iwc    12.50 

8.25 
9.50 
11.20 
12.50 
2.20 

Iwc     2.21 
Iwc     3.50 
Iwc     5.21 
Iwc     6.51 

3.50 
5.20 
6.50 
8.20 

Iwc     8.21 

Iwc     9.21 

10.20 

11.23 

9.50 
10.50 
11.50 

1.03 

6.20 

7.50 

lew   9.30 

lew  11.00 

8.04 

9.33 

11.04 

12.33 

lew    12.30 
lew     2.00 
lew     3.30 
lew     5.00 

2.04 
3.33 
5.04 
6.34 

lew     6.30 
lew     7.30 
lew     8.30 
lew     9.30 
lew    10.35 
lew    11.43 

8.04     

9.04     

10.04     

11.04     

12.04     

1.08     

LWC-LCW — Limited  between  Chicago  and  Wheaton. 
New  Year's,  Decoration  Day,  July  4th,  Labor  Day,  Thanksgiving  and  Christmas  trains  will  run  on  Sunday  schedule. 
Approximate  running  time  between  Wells  St.,  Chicago  and  Marshfield  Ave.,  5  minutes;  Laramie  Ave.,  17  minutes;  Des  Plaines 
Ave.,  Forest  Park,  25  minutes. 

No  Baggage  Carried 
For  Information  Phone  Harrison  2380 


FOX  RIVER  VALLEYS  NEWEST  HIGH  SCHOOL 

MT.  ST.  MARY'S  ACADEMY  -  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 
UILT  in  1925  at  a  cost  of  $260,000.00,  the  St.  Charles  Community  High 
School  stands  on  a  14K"  acre  campus  containing  a  football  field,  baseball 
field  and  tennis  courts.  The  brick  building  consists  of  three  units,  the  central 
unit  providing  a  standard  gymnasium  and  auditorium  seating  more  than 
800,  also  shower-rooms  and  a  cafeteria  room.  The  south  uni*-  includes  shops 
on  the  first  floor  and  class  rooms  and  a  commercial  department  above.  In  the  north  unit 
are  call  rooms  and  a  home  economics  department  on  the  lower  floor,  and  laboratories, 
science  lecture  room  and  class  rooms  in  the  second  story.  The  north  and  south  units  may 
be  extended  at  moderate  cost  so  as  to  practically  double  the  present  capacity  of  the 
building. 

St.  Charles  has  three  grade  school  buildings  and  a  junior  high  school  building.  The 
system  is  complete,  beginning  with  the  kindergarten  and  going  through  four  years  of  a 
standard  high  school.  On  November  1,  1926,  875  children  were  enrolled  in  the  elementary 
schools  and  225  in  the  Community  High  School. 

The  High  School  has  courses  in  English,  Mathematics,  Social  Sciences,  Physics,  Chem- 
istry, Biology,  Home  Economics,  Manual  Training,  Mechanical  Drawing,  Languages  and 
Commercial  Work.  It  is  accredited  with  the  North  Central  Association  of  Secondary 
Schools,  the  University  of  Illinois,  and  is  a  secondary  school  co-operating  with  the  Univers- 
ity of  Chicago. 

The  grade  school  district  recently  acquired  an  inheritance  of  about  $100,000.00  by 
the  will  of  the  late  Charles  H.  Haines,  a  pioneer  citizen  who  was  President  of  the  Board 
of  Education  for  many^years. 


[22] 


SCHOOL  ATHLETICS 

In  athletics  the  High  School  is  a  member  of  the  Little  Seven  Conference.  In  1926 
and  1925,  St.  Charles  won  the  heavyweight  foot  ball  championship,  scoring  a  total  of  409 
points  to  its  opponent's  18  points  for  the  two  years.  St.  Charles  was  not  scored  on  in 
1926.  The  1925  lightweight  basket  ball  championship  was  also  won  by  the  local  team. 
High  schools  of  Wheaton,  Naperville,  Sycamore,  Dundee,  Batavia  and  Geneva  furnish  the 
other  teams  in  the  Conference. 

MT.  ST.  MARY'S  ACADEMY 

An  important  part  of  St.  Charles'  $2,000, C00.C0  building  boom  was  the  new  $200,000.00 
school  at  Mt.  St.  Mary's  Academy.  Conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic,  this  school 
is  situated  on  a  beautiful  site  overlooking  old  green  meadows  and  the  Fox  River. 

The  first'  flcor  contains  a  cafeteria,  class  rooms,  also  a  combination  auditorium  and 
gymnasium,  extending  through  2  stories,  with  ample  showers  and  lockers.  The  Auditorium 
will  accommodate  500.  On  the  second  floor  are  the  chapel  and  more  class  rooms.  Laboratories 
for  Domestic  Science,  Physics  and  Chemistry,  a  Music  Studio  and  ten  sound-proof  rooms 
for  piano  practice  are  in  the  top  story.  The  building  is  fire-proof  in  construction  throughout 
and  equipped  with  the  most  modern  appliances  for  heating  and  ventilation. 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

The  St.  Charles  Library  Board  owns  the  block  of  ground  at  East  Main  Street  and 
Fifth  Avenue  South,  where  its  Colonial  brick  building  is  surrounded  by  trees  and 
shrubs  and  hedges.  The  Library  was  established  April  1,  1906  and  the  Building's 
cost  back  in  1908  was  $15,000.00  of  which  the  Carnegie  Library  Fund  donated  $12,500.00. 
In  November,  1926,  the  number  of  volumes  was  8,721.  Mrs.  C.  M.  J.  Farson  has  been 
President  of  the  Board  since  the  organisation  of  the  Library. 


[23 


"St.  Charles  *  *  has  taken  the  lead 
and  set  the  pace  among  all  towns 
of  its  size  in  several  projects  which 
are  ma\ing  St.  Charles  famous." 
— Mr.  Jacob  L.  Crane,  Jr. 


HOSPITAL  AND  HEALTH 

St.  Charles  City  Hospital  at  Park  Avenue  and 
Second  Avenue  North  is  a  two-story  brick  man' 
sion  with  a  detached  dormitory  and  spacious 
grounds  overlooking  Pottawatomie  Park  and  the 
River.  At  present  it  has  twenty  beds,  and  about 
250  patients  are  treated  m  it  yearly  from  here 
and  surrounding  districts. 

The  Hospital  has  recently  been  left  a  handsome 
bequest  in  the  will  of  a  local  Civil  War  Veteran. 

An  efficient  Health  Officer,  a  school  nurse  and 
dentist  are  great  helps  in  keeping  up  the  health 
standard  of  young  and  old. 

A  Milk  Ordinance  specifying  milk  from  healthy,  disease-free  cows,  and  forbidding 
the  sale  of  raw  milk  if  not  certified  was  passed  by  the  City  Council  in  March,  1926. 

The  St.  Charles  death  rate  per  thousand  during  1926  was  11.92  which  compares  not 
unfavorably  with  Chicago's  record  of  11.40. 

St.  Charles  birth  rate  in  1926  exceeded  the  death  rate  by  fifty-four  percent. 


Was  Lincoln  in  St.  Charles  1 

A  loca  /legend  insists  that  he  and  his  famous  tall 
hat  entered  this  little  building  to  consult  with  the 
late  Judge  W.  D.  Barry. 


L.O.O.M.  Building 

"Mooseheart  is  in  Kane  County,  Illi- 
nois, because  of  a  scientific  study  b;y  the 
best  men  of  the  Ration  who  examined 
conditions  in  community  after  community 
to  determine  which  was  the  very  best  place 
in  the  world  for  boys  and  girls  to  become 
men  and  women." 

— Mr.  Rodney  L.  Brandon 


r^ 


^S 


In  the  Arcada  is  to  be  found  a 
grandeur  seldom  approached.'" — Ex- 
hibitor's Herald. 


ARCADA  THEATRE 

Elmer  Behrns,  Architect 

The  Arcada  Building  at  East  Main  Street 
and  First  Avenue  South  is  a  $500,000.00  ex- 
ample  of  Mr.  Lester  J.  Norris'  confidence  in 
the  future  of  St.  Charles.  The  famous  Arcada 
Theatre,  also  shops,  offices  and  lodge  rooms 
and  the  Chronicle  Publishing  Co.  are  housed 
in  this  successful  adaption  of  the  Venetio' 
Spanish  style.  There  are  unusual  floors  and 
walls,  and  a  delightful  semblance  of  mellow 
age  throughout. 

The  entrance  to  the  Arcada  Theatre  is 
through  an  arcade  whereof  the  ceiling'beams 
are  ornamented  with  carved  Indian  heads  de- 
signed by  Mr.  Norris.  The  theatre  was  built 
and  decorated  with  a  scrupulous  regard  for 
taste  and  harmony,  and  is  equipped  with 
today's  (or  tomorrow's)  accessories  a  nd  safety 
precautions.  There  are  Mission  bells  and  a  pipe  organ,  draperies  and  Andalusian  jars 
bathed  in  electric  light  as  blue  as  Maxfield  Parnsh's  skies.  It  will  seat  over  1000  people, 
and  the  stage  is  the  biggest  in  the  Fox  River  Valley. 

The  report  of  Mr.  Lester  B.  Colby  of  the  Illinois  Chamber  of  Commerce  describes 
the  place  with  such  words  as  "magnificent,"  "colorful,'1  "coral,  gold  and  other  radiant 
hues,1'  and  then  he  says:  "I  talked  with  an  expert  theatre  designer  who  came  to  St.  Charles 
to  look  it  over.  He  remarked  with  enthusiasm :  'Theater  builders  will  come  from  all  over 
the  United  States  to  see  this  theatre  before  starting  projects.  It  is  a  step  ahead.  It  is 
wonderful.   There  is  no  other  like  it.   I  am  charmed.'  " 

It  seems  to  us  that,  just  as  the  Country  Club  typifies  out-of-doors  recreational  advan' 
tages  in  St.  Charles,  the  Arcada  Theatre  embodies  the  opportunity  for  year  'round  amuse' 
merit  in  this  City — "a  step  ahead,11  "wonderful,"  "no  other  like  it." 


[25] 


ST.  CHARLES  COUNTRY  CLUB 

Eighteen  holes  of  golf  in  a  naturally  rolling  course  with  water-hazards,  a  Club  House 
that  has  been  described  as  "punctilious  perfection,"  all  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city  on  a 
good  road  and  with  a  waiting-station  on  the  electric  railway — that  is  the  St.  Charles 
Country  Club ! 

The  need  for  such  an  organization  (which  will  be  even  greater  within  the  next  year 
or  two)  was  noted  and  supplied  by  the  foresight  of  Mr.  Lester  J.  Norris.  The  course  is 
a  part  of  his  vast  holdings  northeast  of  St.  Charles,  and  is  another  example  of  the  taste 
and  thoroughness  with  which  he  does  things.  He  has  achieved  the  ideal  terrain:  rolling 
turf,  foliage  and  water.  Into  this  composition,  the  Club  House  with  its  roofs  and  chim- 
neys blends  as  nicely  as  though  it  had  grown  out  of  the  ground  along  with  the  oak  grove. 
It  is  already  a  social  center  of  the  smart  life  in  our  community. 

ST.  CHARLES  HAS  FOUR  PARKS 

There  are  four  parks  in  St.  Charles :  Pottawatomie  Park,  the  Public  Square,  Lincoln 
Park  and  Haseltine  Park.  The  township  controls  the  largest  and  best  known  of  these, 
Pottawatomie  Park.  Here  are  20  acres  of  natural  wood-land  sloping  down  to  a  clean-cut 
river-bank.  Added  improvements  are  in  keeping  with  this  rustic  setting,  and  consist 
of  walks,  terraces,  fountains,  buildings  and  play-ground  equipment.  Bathing  and  boating 
are  good  here. 

Lincoln  Park  on  the  West  Side  and  the  Public  Square  at  the  top  of  East  Main  Street 
have  fine  old  trees,  shrubbery,  benches,  fountains  and  band-stands. 


[26] 


'   :1J 


E.  J.  BAKER'S  NEW  $600,000.00  HOTEL 

Seventy  years  ago  when  St.  Charles  was  much  smaller  than  it  is  now,  it  had  four  or 
five  big  brick  hotels.  Conditions  changed;  come  were  pulled  down  and  some  were  altered 
for  other  lines  of  business. 

The  White  Front  Hotel,  however,  has  cared  for  local  transient  guests  since  pioneer 
days,  and  is  still  doing  so.  It  has  expanded  along  with  the  community,  and  has  adapted 
itself  to  new  ways,  but  it  has  never  changed  its  first  standard  of  cordial  hospitality. 

The  rush  of  modern  pioneers  to  St.  Charles  will  soon  be  accommodated  by  a 
fire-proof  hostelry  on  the  Chicago-Iowa  Trail  (Route  64)  and  Route  22,  and  one-half  mile 
from  the  Lincoln  Highway.  In  September  1926,  ground  was  broken  for  Mr.  E.  J.  Baker's 
new  $600,000.00  riverside  hotel,  and  completion  of  this  five-story  and  basement  structure 
is  promised  by  the  summer  1927. 

Hotel  St.  Charles  it  will  be,  and,  in  location  and  completeness,  the  finest  in  the  Fox 
River  Valley.  Messrs.  Wolf,  Sexton,  Harper  6?  Trueax  (who  also  designed  the  Com- 
munity Center  and  the  National  Bank  Building)  are  the  architects. 

The  hotel's  150  feet  of  West  Main  Street  frontage  will  be  occupied  on  the  ground 
floor  by  the  lobby  and  shops.  There  will  be  an  elliptic  dining-room  with  a  glass-floored 
ball-room  on  the  mezzanine  and  60  rooms  for  transients.  The  fourth  and  fifth  floors  will 
consist  of  small  furnished  apartments,  in  one  of  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  expect  to  live. 
A  riverside  promenade  is  planned  in  the  rear  of  the  premises  where  there  is  also  ample 
space  for  future  expansion. 

The  conception  and  erection  of  this  hotel  is  just  another  indication  of  Mr.  Baker's 
pride  and  faith  in  his  home  city.  It  is  also  a  proof  of  the  recent  back-to-the-highways  trend 
in  national  travel  and  transportation,  and  a  glorious  monument  to  those  five  hotels  that 
flourished  here  before  our  roads  were  eclipsed  by  steam  railways. 

"St.  Charles  is  a  delightful  city  with  many  fine  old-fashioned  homes  and  estimable 
people.  Among  the  latter  are  Ed  Ba\er  and  his  niece,  Mrs.  Lester  A[orns.  .  .  . 
A  community  house,  a  ban\  building,  a  theater,  a  golf  course,  a  new  hotel — all  de- 
signed and  built  in  the  most  approved  architectural  style  and  without  stint  in  the 
use  of  money,  are  present  monuments  to  their  generosity  as  well  as  civic  pride." — 
Richard  Lowrie  in  "Elgin  Courier'T^ews" 


X 


• 
^ 


ZONING  AND  PLANNING  COMMISSION 

RESTRICTED  SUBDIVISION-DUNHAM  WOODS 

FAIRFIELD  ADDITION 

ZONING  AND  PLANNING  COMMISSION  was  appointed  a  few  months 
ago  for  the  City  of  St.  Charles,  following  the  adoption  by  the  City  Council 
of  the  necessary  preliminary  ordinances.  This  Commission  is  rapidly  work' 
ing  out  a  zoning  and  general  City  Plan. 

Mr.  Jacob  L.  Crane,  Jr.,  a  city  planning  expert  of  national  prominence 
who  has  been  consulted  in  the  work  says: 

"Several  factors  of  primary  importance  stand  out  in  the  consideration  of  zoning  and 
town-planning  for  St.  Charles. 

"First,  the  strategic  and  beautiful  situation  of  this  little  city  unquestionably  insures 
its  growth  both  as  a  suburban  residential  community  and  as  a  center  for  smaller,  clean, 
electrical  industries.  The  scenic  setting  on  the  Fox  River,  the  available  and  improving 
transportation,  highway  connections,  unlimited  power  and  water  supply  for  industries, 
and  the  finest  type  of  high  rolling  land  for  residential  and  recreational  development  are 
all  items  in  the  forecasting  of  certain  growth  of  population. 

"The  second  factor  is  unique.  St.  Charles,  through  the  civic  interest  of  a  number  of 
its  citizens,  has  taken  the  lead  and  set  the  pace  among  all  the  towns  of  its  size  in  several 
projects  which  are  making  St.  Charles  famous,  namely,  the  community  building,  the  new 
bank,  theatre  and  hotel.  These  projects  have  aroused  St.  Charles  to  a  degree  of  civic  pride 
and  civic  ambition  which  sets  the  town  apart  among  its  contemporaries,  and  which  will 
have  a  marked  effect  upon  the  success  of  an  ambitiously,  but  carefully  comprehensive  civic 
development  plan  and  program. 

"Third,  in  the  district  adjacent  to  the  City  of  St.  Charles  several  great  land  develop- 
ment operations  have  been  started.  Each  of  these  will  contribute  to  the  development  of 
the  city  and  each  will  be  a  sort  of  suburb  to  St.  Charles  until  such  time  as  they  may  be 
annexed  to  the  city.  Dunham  Woods  is  probably  the  largest  and  best  known  of  these  land 
development  operations,  and  this  project  with  its  2200  acres  of  the  highest  class  of  resi' 
dential  development  is  bound  to  have  an  influence  on  the  rate  and  character  of  the 
growth  of  St.  Charles.  The  situation  of  Dunham  Woods  and  St.  Charles  so  close  to  each 
other  is  of  great  advantage  to  both.11 

Dunham  Woods  is  not  as  yet  on  the  market,  but  for  those  interested  in  restricted 
subdivisions,  attention  may  be  called  to  the  Fairfield  Addition  in  the  Southwest  part  of 
the  city.  This  real  estate  development  is  bounded  on  the  East  by  Anderson  Boulevard  with 
the  C.  A.  6?  E.  Ry.  Line  on  the  South  by  the  City  Limits,  on  the  West  by  Fifth  Street 
South  and  on  the  North  by  Home  Street,  and  offers  unusually  attractive  features  to  seekers 
of  homes  or  homcsites  in  a  reasonably  restricted  subdivision. 

There  are  58  lots  available  for  a  prospective  buyer  at  present,  so  the  proprietors, 
Messrs.  B.  Cimaglio  6?  Co.  of  7039  W.  Grand  Ave.,  Chicago,  advise  at  prices  ranging 
from  $35.00  to  $50.00  per  front  foot  (subject  to  change  without  notice).  No  house  costing 
less  than  $10,000.00  may  be  built  on  Anderson  Blvd.,  and  none  costing  less  than  $7,500.00 
may  be  built  on  Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets.  This  assures  a  high  type  of  homes,  and,  with 
che  restrictions  that  are  being  worked  out  by  the  Zoning  and  Planning  Commission,  pro- 
vides ample  protection  on  the  investment. 


SOME    ST.  CHARLES    HOMES 


"I  have  traveled  all  over 
the  world,  I  have  seen  hills 
much  higher  and  streams 
much  deeper,  but  to  me  the 
Fox  River  Valley  is  the 
most  beautiful  I  have  ever 
seen.  It  is  nature" s  mas' 
terpiece.  It  is  not^over* 
done."" 
■ — Mr.  Emerson  Hough 


ST.  CHARLES1  OLDEST  HOME-Built  1836  ^ 
Still  occupied  by  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Minard,  Civil  War  Veteran,  and  son  of  towns  founder.    Mr. 

tAinard  was  bom  here 


2H 


I,  fi\ 


»ir..  .--■ :,:  ■:.;.;:,;■: 


[35] 


V 


RESIDENTIAL  REAL  ESTATE  GENERALLY 

BUILDER'S  DIRECTORY--ST.  CHARLES 

BUILDING  6?  LOAN  ASSOCIATION 

HERE  are  within  the  city  limits  of  St.  Charles  about  300  vacant  lots  varying 
in  si?  from  fifty  feet  by  one  hundred  feet  to  an  acre  or  more,  and  in  price 
fro:-  $300.00  to  $2000.00.  Nearly  all  of  these  lots  have  water,  sewers,  gas 
and  electric  light  and  power  available,  and  many  are  on  paved  streets  with 
sidewalks  built. 

Home  building  costs  average  about  $1000.00  per  room  for  modern  dwellings.  From 
the  St.  Charles  Building  &  Loan  Assn.  Banks  and  other  loan  organisations,  loans  may  be 
obtained  at  approximately  6%. 

Real  estate  values  are  steadily  advancing  with  the  healthy  growth  of  St.  Charles  in 
population  and  attractiveness. 

Home  rentals  run  from  $25.00  to  $50.00  per  month  for  modern  homes. 
Just  outside  the  city  limits  there  is  much  activity  in  suburban  home  building  and 
lot  subdivisions,  and  many  of  these  lots  having  River  frontage  or  River  view  locations 
are  for  sale  at  reasonable  cost. 

The  foregoing  information  may  be  verified  and  amplified  by  communicating  with  any 
of  those — within  the  scope  of  their  particular  trade  or  business — listed  alphabetically  in 
the  following: 

BUILDER'S  DIRECTORY 

(Address,. St.  Charles,  Illinois) 


ARCHITECTS— F.  B.  Gray,  Wolf,  Sexton, 
Harper  &  Trueax. 

BROKERS  (REAL  ESTATE)— E.  A.  Gray,  606, 
6th  Ave.  South,  Frank  Rockwell,  St.  Charles  Realty 
Co.,  Stewart  &  Nord,  uy2  E.  Main  St. 

CONTRACTORS— (a)  GENERAL— C.  A.  An- 
derson, Hans  Jensen,  Max  A.  Lehman  &•?  Sons. 

(b)— CARPENTERS— Dani  Bowen,  Del  De- 
Long,  Anund  Nelson,  Emil  Nelson,  P.  N.  Roy,  Wm. 
Seputis,  Bernard  Snelting,  C.  P.  Swanson,  Edmond 
VanDerZwalm. 

(c)— ELECTRICAL— Northern  Illinois  Electric 
Service  Co.,  Public  Service  Co.  of  Northern  Illinois 
LeRoy  W.  Rehm. 

(d)— MASONS,  BRICKLAYERS— A.  S.  Caustin, 
Chas.  H.  Caustin,  Jr.,  Andrew  M.  Johnson. 

(e)— PAINTERS  &>  PAPERERS— Ed.  Anderson, 
Martin  Anderson,  Clyde  Babbitt,  Chas.  Backstrom, 

St.  Charles  Building 
The  ST.  CHARLES  BUILDING  6?  LOAN  ASSO- 
CIATION, organized  among  the  first  in  the  State 
in  1891,  has  been  mainly  responsible  for  the  great 
percentage  of  home-owners  in  St.  Charles,  and  has 
grown  to  be  a  large,  efficient,  prosperous  public 
servant. 

Building  and  loan  associations  have  become  very 
important,  if  not  necessary,  factors  in  the  home- 
building  program  of  this  country. 


Chas.  Gabrielson,  G.  E.  Holden  6?  Son,  Axel  Lind- 
quist,  Locke  &  Naughton,  Geo.  W.  Nelson,  Howard 
Norris. 

(f)— PLASTERERS— Gordon  L.  Fiske,  Chas. 
Isackson,  Fobe  Nord. 

(g)— PLUMBERS— John  Anderson,  Philip  Harter, 
R.  L.  Wagner. 

(h)— TIN  SMITHS— Louis  Olson,  Martin  A. 
Schultz. 

HARDWARE— A.  H.  Borman  6?  Co.,  George 
A.  Essig. 

LOAN  AGENTS— H.  G.  Hempstead,  C.  L. 
,Hunt,  Frank  Rockwell,  St.  Charles  Building  6?  Loan 
Assn. 

LUMBER  DEALERS— Chas.  A.  Harbaugh  Lum- 
ber Co.,  M.  A.  Joshel  &  Bros.,  P.  S.  Nichol  Lumber 
Co. 

SURVEYORS— J.  W.  Wilson. 

and  Loan  Association 

Its  present  capital  stock  is  $2,000,000.00.  Officers 
and  directors  are  Nate  C.  Brown,  President,  W.  L. 
Eddy,  Vice-President,  C.  J.,  Marvin,  Secretary,  J.  H. 
Andrews,  A.  G.  Anderson,  L.  C.  Caldwell,  J.  W. 
Gartner,  Evar  Larson,  J.  T.  McConkey  and  R.  W. 
Matteson.    Louis  Rockwell  is  Association  Attorney. 

The  semi-annual  statement  for  period  ending  Oct. 
31,  1926  showed  total  assets  and  liabilities  of  $915,- 
703.43  with  profits  of  $165,003.93  and  a  total  amount 
of  loans  for  those  6  months  of  $100,000.00. 


"Within  the  next  twenty  five  years  1,000,000  newcomers  will  settle  in  Suburban  Chicago 
the  population  forecasters  say." — Chicago  Daily  J^lews,  June  2,  1926. 


\  32 


TRANSPORTATION 
NEW  INDUSTRIES -CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE 

TRANSPORTATION 

The  main  line  of  the  Chicago  Great  Western  Railroad  runs  through  the  city,  and  along  its  right-of-way 
are  still  available  many  desirable  industrial  sites.  ^ 

A  2-mile  spur  from  the  Galena  Division  of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railw  /.reaches  the  heartof 
the  city  with  ample  trackage  facilities  for  increased  freight  patronage.  mmi 

The  Elgin,  Joliet  6?  Eastern  Railroad  (outer  belt  line)  passes  within  about  3  miles  of  the  city  limits. 

Electric  transportation  is  supplied  by  two  companies.  The  Aurora,  Elgin  6?  Fox  River  Electric  Co.  gives 
hourly  service  with  Elgin,  Aurora  and  intervening  Valley  cities.  The  street  cars  came  here  in  1896  when^they 
were  run  on  a  two-hour  schedule  between  St.  Charles  and  Elgin;  in  1900  the  lines  were  completed  and  through 
service  from  Aurora  to  Elgin  began.  The  first  cars  were  the  single-truck,  small  city  cars.  In  1898  the  36-seat, 
double-truck  cars  with  hand  brakes  were  put  into  service,  to  be  replaced  in  1902  by  the  48-seat,  air-brake  car 
with  smoking  compartment;  1923  brought  the  most  modern  interurban  car  with  leather  seats,  air  brakes,  auto' 
matic  door  operators  and  all  the  other  latest  equipment  and  safety  devices.  Express  cars  are  also  operated. 
Service  is  now  hourly  but  plans  are  about  completed  to  effect  a  half  hour  schedule.  This  Company  has  kept  pace 
with  the  development  of  the  Fox  River  Valley,  and  we  are  assured  that  when  more  cars  are  needed,  more  will 
be  provided. 

The  Chicago,  Aurora  6?  Elgin  Railroad  Co.  furnish  electric  transportation  to  Chicago.  This  line  began 
operating  in  1908  when  the  cars  were  run  to  Laramie  Avenue  and  passengers  transferred  to  the  Metropolitan 
Elevated  Lines.   In  1905  cars  were  operated  to  the  Wells  Street  Terminal  which  is  in  downtown  Chicago. 

The  Lincoln  Highway  and  Roosevelt  Road  tie  in  to  St.  Charles  over  paved  highways,  and  the  early  com' 
pletion  of  the  Chicago-Iowa  Trail  from  Sycamore  through  St.  Charles  to  Chicago  over  Route  64  and  North 
Avenue  is  in  prospect,  all  being  available  for  truck  transportation. 

INDUSTRIES 

There  are  scores  of  worthy  concerns  struggling  in  lofts,  hampered  by  labor  conditions,  crowded  for  space 
and  forced  to  truck  their  products  to  the  nearest  railway,  who  could  move  here  and  grow  up  with  St.  Charles 
with  advantage  to  both.   This  has  been  done. 

If  such  a  concern  is  interested  in  locating  in  St.  Charles  and  can  show  a  thriving  business,  a  worthy'product 
and  a  valuable  good  will,  or  any  of  these,  it  will  meet  with  prompt  co-operation  from  local  business  interests 
and  capital. 

The  problem  is  to  discover  and  prove  such  possible  industries,  and  that  is  a  task  our  Chamber  of  Commerce 
is  now  cheerfully  performing. 

St.  Charles  already  has  over  a  dozen  selected  factories  employing  a  high  grade  of  labor.  Real  estate  values 
are  as  yet  uninflated.  Two-fifths  of  its  streets  are  already  paved;  two-thirds  of  its  families  own  their  homes. 
Such  a  community  will  naturally  attract  folk  who  are  thrifty,  home-loving  and  law-abiding,  and  it  is  this  type 
of  population  only  that  St.  Charles  seeks. 

CONCLUSION 

No  work  is  complete. 

This  little  book  has  not  told  you  just  what  you  want 
to  know  about  St.  Charles? 

At  a  desk  in  the  new  Community  Center  at  St.  Charles 
is  one  who  can. 

He  will  answer  your  inquiries  intelligently,  promptly 
and  cheerfully. 

He  will  mail  you  a  map  of  the  City  on  written  request. 

That  is  one  reason  why  he  is  there. 

Address  him  thus : 

Secretary,  CHAMBER  of  COMMERCE 

101  SECOND  STREET,  SOUTH  ST.  CHARLES,  ILLINOIS 


HISTORICAL  SUMMARY: 

1673-1927 

THE  first  white  folk  in  our  part  of  the  Fox  River  Valley  were  undoubtedly  those 
hardy  Frenchmen  whose  energy  and  vision  won  and  held  it  for  nearly  a  century. 
The  first  white  settlers  in  St.  Charles  were  Hoosiers  who  arrived  here  in  1832. 
Then  came  the  Yankees,  New  York  State  pioneers,  Canadian  ex-Tories,  closely  followed 
by  the  Scotch,  Irish,  Germans,  and,  later,  by  Scandinavians,  Belgians  and  Lithuanians. 

The  first  town  plat  was  recorded  in  1837;  St.  Charles  was  incorporated  as  a  city  in 
1874.  At  one  time  St.  Charles  was  called  the  logical  metropolis  of  Northern  Illinois,  and 
immigrants  have  come  here  in  preference  to  the  lake  port  by  Fort  Dearborn.  Indeed,  one 
of  our  shrewdest  Yankee  pioneers  disposed  of  his  Chicago  holdings  to  buy  and  plat  the 
Original  Town  cut  here.    (No,  you're  wrong;  he  died  the  richest  man  in  Kane  County.) 

The  earliest  pictures  of  St.  Charles  show  shady  streets,  substantial  homes,  brick 
business  blocks,  and  the  spires  and  cupolas  of  church  and  school  punctuating  the  leafy 
sky-line.  Thrift,  enterprise,  wealth  and  romance  were  here.  The  Autumn  nights  were 
lighted  by  the  burning  straw  stacks  for  miles  around,  until  the  paper  mill,  one  of  the  first 
in  the  West,  gave  a  market  for  this  by-product  of  wheat  growing. 

History  was  being  made  in  those  days.  A  little  Woods  volunteer  returned  from  the 
Mexican  War  so  enamoured  of  the  conquered  regions  that  he  sold  out  and  went  overland 
to  California  where  he  prospered  and  ended  his  days,  no  doubt,  as  a  "native  son.11  One 
of  our  landlords  went  to  Charleston  and  Baltimore  as  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  con- 
ventions that  split  the  party  and  really,  elected  the  first  President  from  this  State. 

A  local  legend  insists  that  Lincoln  was  once  in  St.  Charles;  that  he  and  his  famous 
tall  hat  went  into  Judge  William  D.  Barry's  little  East  Main  Street  office  where  he  made 
enquiries  about  some  legal  matter  which  had  brought  him  to  this  part  of  the  State.  It  is 
a  fact  that  Mrs.  Lincoln  spent  a  Winter  here  during  the  early  seventies.  Lillian  Russell 
spent  the  best  years  of  her  girlhood  in  St.  Charles,  thereby,  as  many  of  us  will  admit, 
acquiring  the  beauty  that  was  to  make  her  famous. 

Kane  County  has  been  credited  with  the  largest  volunteer  percentage  of  any  County 
in  the  United  States  during  the  Civil  War,  and  there  are  those  who  claim  that  St.  Charles 
was  the  County's  leader  in  this  respect.  Two  famous  cavalry  regiments  (the  8th  and  17th) 
were  recruited  here,  and  local  soldiers  served  in  the  Peninsular  campaigns,  and  under 
Grant,  and  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea. 

When  wheat  growing  was  no  longer  profitable,  our  farmers  tried  dairying  and  in 
time  this  Valley  became  famous  for  its  butter  and  cheese.  The  next  city  up-stream  fixed 
the  world's  price  of  butter  for  years.  Later  on  condensed  milk  was  produced  here.  It  is 
said  that  underneath  the  cinders  on  the  East  shore  of  the  mill-pond  are  layers  of  buried 
cans  whose  contents  were  spoiled  during  the  patient  experiments  that  finally  discovered 
and  perfected  St.  Charles  Evaporated  Cream.  This  local  product  had  a  world-wide 
market  for  years.  It  helped  feed  homesteaders  in  the  far  West,  Klondyke  gold-seekers  and 
diamond  miners  in  South  Africa.  Ours  is  a  region  of  big  red  barns  and  silos,  black  and 
white  cows  and  level  black  cornfields. 

,  History  does  repeat  itself.  The  re-discovery  of  St.  Charles  on  the  Fox  River  has 
already  begun.  New  settlers  are  coming  West.  The  advance  scouts  do  not  arrive  in 
ox-carts  over  the  prairie,  but  in  the  family  car  over  the  new  paved  roads.  They  have 
already  sent  back  word  to  their  friends  in  Chicago  that  here  is  the  place  to  own  a  home 
and  bring  up  the  children.  They  tell  of  the  peculiar  charm  and  healthful  advantages  of 
this  part  of  the  Fox  River  Valley  and  of  St.  Charles  with  its  fine  community  spirit,  its 
schools,  churches,  transportation  facilities  and  uninflated  values. 

These  new  pioneers  are  the  most  laudatory  historians  that  St.  Charles  has. 


INDEX 


Page 

Academy,  Mt.  St.  Mary's 23 

A.  E.  6?  F.  R.  Electric  Co 33 

Anderson  Ice  Cream  Co 15 

Arcada  Theatre 25 

Architects 32 

Assessed  Valuation,  Gain  in 16 

Baker,  Henry  R.  Community  Center • 6 

Banks,  new  $200,000.00 20 

Bathing,  Boating 17 

Birth  Rate 24 

Brandon,  Rodney  L.,  on  Fox  River 24 

Brokers,  Real  Estate 32 

Builder's  Directory 32 

Building  &?  Loan  Assn 32 

Cable  Company 10 

Census,  1926  Federal 16 

C.  A.  6?  E.  Electric  R.  R.  Co 33 

C.  G.  W.  R.  R 33 

Chamber  of  Commerce 33 

Chicago  Commuters,  No.  of 16 

Chicago  Commutation  Schedules , 21 

Chronicle  Publishing  Co 15-25 

Churches 9 

City  Government 16 

Clubs,  Civic  and  Service 21 

C.  6?  N.  W.  Ry 33 

Community  Center,  $200,000.00 6 

Conservancy  District 17 

Contractors,  listed 32 

Country  Club 26 

Cost  of  Homes  and  Lots 32 

Crane,  Jacob  L.,  on  St.  Charles 24-28 

Crissey,  Forrest,  on  Fox  River 3 

Crown  Electrical  Mfg.  Co 12 

Death  Rate,  compared  with  Chicago's 24 

Disease  Prevention 24 

Dunham  Wood 28 

Electric  Light  and  Power  Service 8 

Electric  Railways 33 

Employed,  Total  in  Factories 16 

Evans'  Game  Farm 5 

Evans,  Samuel,  on  St.  Charles 36 

Factories,  listed 10  to  16 

Factories,  Type  sought 33 

Factories,  No.  of  Hands 16 

Fairfield  Addition 28 

Finances,  City 16 

Financing  a  Ho  ie  Here 32 

Fire  Rates  and  Prevention 16 

Fishing,  16  lb.  Pickerel 17-18 

Fox  River 17 

Fox  River  Water  Analysed 17 

Fraternal  Societies 21 

Gain  in  Real  Estate  Valuation 16 

Gain  in  Population 16 

Game  Farm,  Evans' 5 

Gas  Service 8 

Globe  Music  Co 14 

Golf  Course 26 

Glenn  Mfg.  Co 13 

Health  Precautions,  City 24 

Historical  Summary 34 

Holmstrom,  C.  H.  fe?  Co 14 

Homes,  Typical  St.  Charles 29  to  32 

Homes,  Percentage  Owned 16 

Homes,  Cost  and  Rentals 32 

Hospitals 24 

Hotels,  new  $600,000.00 27 

Hough,  Emerson,  on  Fox  River 29 

Illinois  Bell  Telephone  Co 8 

Illinois  Cleaners  &  Dyers 15 

Indebtedness,  City  (Nil) 16 

Industries,  kind  wanted 33 

Industries,  listed 10 

Janes  &  Kirtland,  Inc 11 

JensenKohlert  Mfg.  Co 13 

Judd,  R.C 15 


Page 

Kessinger,  Hon.  Harold,  on  Fox  River 9 

Library,  Public 23 

Light  Service 8 

Lipton,  Sir  Thos.,  o^  Fox  River 2 

Lloyd  George,  David,  on  Fox  River 36 

Loan  Agents  and  Rates 32 

Lodges,  listed 21 

Lots,  Cost  of 32 

Lumber  Dealers 32 

Map,  St.  Charles  and  Environs 36 

Milk  Ordinance 24 

McCornack  Oil  Co 15 

Moline  Malleable  Iron  Co 11 

Mt.  St.  Mary's  Academy 23 

Nature's  Masterpiece 29 

Newcombe-Hawley,  Inc 13 

Norris',  Lester  J.,  Holdings 17-26 

Oak  Ridge  Camp 17 

Office,  Chamber  of  Commerce 33 

Orchard  Hill 17 

Organizations,  Social,  Benevolent 21 

Parks  and  Play  Grounds 26 

Paved  Highways 33 

Paved  Streets,  City 16 

Pike,  S.  W.,  Seedsman,  Inc 15 

Pinelands 17 

Population,  Gain  in 16 

Population,  Type  Sought 33 

Postal  Receipts 16 

Pottawatomie  Park 17-26 

Power,  Electric  and  Water 8 

Power  Rates 8 

Public  Service  Co.  of  Northern  Illinois 8 

Public  Utility  Rates 8 

Publishing  Co.,  Chronicle 15-25 

Railway  Connections 33 

Railway  "Schedules 21 

Rates,  Birth  and  Death 24 

Rates,  Insurance 16 

Real  Estate  Values 32 

Real  Estate  Valuations 16 

Real  Estate  Brokers 32 

Receipts,  Postal,  Gain  In 16 

Rentals,  Real  Estate 32 

River  Front  Property 32 

iVestricted  Subdivisions 28 

St.  Charles  Building  &  Loan  Assn 32 

St.  Charles  Fixture  Mfg.  Co 12 

St.  Charles  Laundry  Co 12 

St.  Charles  Memorial  Works 15 

St.  Charles  Net  and  Hammock  Co 13 

St.  Charles  Nickel  Works 14 

St.  Charles  Paper  Box  Co 14 

St.  Charles  School  for  Boys 5 

Schedules,  Time 21 

Schools,  new  $460,000.00 22 

Schwab,  Chas.  M.,  on  Fox  River 11 

Sewers,  Mileage 16 

Street  Car  Service 33 

Streets,  Paved  Mileage  and  Per  cent 16 

Street  Mileage 16 

Subdivisions,  Restricted 28 

Surveyors 32 

Tax  Rate,  City 16 

Tax  Rate,  Compared  with  Chicago's 16 

Theatre,  Arcada 25 

Time  Tables 21 

Transportation 33 

Underwoods 17 

Universal  Press 14 

Vacant  Lots,  Value 32 

Values,  Real  Estate 32 

Water  Mains,  Mileage 16 

Water,  River  Analysed 17 

Western  United  Gas  6?  Electric  Co 8 

World's  Largest  Wild  Game  Farm 5 

Zoning  Commission 28 


"A  radical  anch.profcund  change  is  taking  place  in  the  attitude  of  city  dwellers  in  America 
towards  country  living.  Tho^.e  who  can 'afford  to  live  in  the  country,  at  least  through  the  open 
season,  are  making  the  exchange  in  constantly  increasing  numbers.  This  is  the  reason  why  the 
beautiful  Fox  River  Valley  will  seen  have  a  population  which  now  seems  impossible  to  most 
of  its  inhabitants.  Chicago  and  its  mere  crowded  suburbs  are  going  to  send  us  those  of  their 
people  who  have  awakened  to  the  fact  that  a  well-rounded  life  calls  for  something  of  the  freedom, 
the  activity  and  the  contact  with  nature  which  can  be  had  only  in  the  country.  The  wealthy 
and  well-to-do  people  of  the  English  cities  learned  this  long  ago.  *  *  * 

'Tm  glad  that  I  live  in  a  community  that  is  keenly  appreciative  of  all  this.  In  building  for 
the  future  St.  Charles  is  in  the  lead.    In  this  it  exemplifies  the  spirit  of  the  entire  Fox  River 

Valley/1 

—  K-R.  Samuel  Evans,  of  Wallace  Evans'  Cair.e  Farm 


Mr.  DAVID  LLOYD  GEORGE  passed  through  St.  Charles  in  the  Autumn  of  1923.  The 
St.  Charles  Chronicle  of  Oct.  18,  1923,  said  of  this  visit  to  our  region:  "He  paid  a  wonderful 
tribute  to  the  beauty  of  the  roadway  through  which  he  fared,  the  road  from  St.  Charles  *  *  , 
which  was  in  a  blaze  of  glory  of  Autumn  colorings  en  the  tree.:  and  shrubs  lining  the  way. " 


thisboofyet  has  cause&you 
toremember  ST.  CHARLES 

1-for  its  Natural  Beauty; 
2-for  its  Community  Center; 
3— for  its  Churches; 
4-for  its  Banks  and  Industries; 
S^for  its  newest  High  School; 
6-for  its  Arcada  Theatre,  its  Country 
Club  and  riverside  Hotel; 

then 

it  has  achieved  its  purpose: 
becanseyou  will  then  thin\of 
ST.  CHARLES  in  the 

FOX  RIVER  VAilJEY 
as  a  city  of 

1 -Beautiful  Environment; 

2— Wholesome  Community  Spirit; 

3-Thriving  Religious  Organizations; 

4— Business  Prosperity; 

5-Modern  Educational  Facilities; 

6-Unique  Recreational  Opportunities; 


and 


your  old-fashioned  American  common 
sense  will  advise  you  to  come  and  verify 
or  disprove  our  claims  for 

STXHARLES  the  Beauty  Spot 
of  the  FOX  RIVER  VALLEY 


PRINTED  IN  ST.  CHARLES  BY  THE 
CHRONICLE  PUBLISHING  CO.,  INC. 


